Method and Kit for DNA Typing of HLA Gene

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and kit for highly precise DNA typing, in which ambiguity derived from phase ambiguity is eliminated. The present invention provides a method for the DNA typing of HLA, which is characterized by comprising: (1) a step of preparing a set of primers which can respectively anneal specifically to an upstream region and a downstream region of each of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 gene in the nucleotide sequence for the human genome, and a set of primers which can respectively anneal specifically to exon-2 and a 3′-side non-translated region in HLA-DRB1; (2) a step of carrying out the PCR amplification of a sample to be tested (DNA) using the sets of primers; (3) a step of determining the nucleotide sequence for a PCR-amplified product; and (4) an optional step of carrying out the homology search in a data base.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and a kit for DNA typing of a HLA gene using a massive parallel sequencer.

BACKGROUND ART

The human leucocyte antigen (HLA), which represents major human histocompatibility complex (MHC), presents peptides derived from foreign proteins such as pathogens and peptides derived from self-proteins to T cells. In this manner, HLA is deeply involved in induction of immunological responses. As major HLAs, six types of antigens are known, namely, class I molecules (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C), which is expressed in almost all cells, and class II molecules (HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, HLA-DP), which is expressed mainly in immune cells.

The HLA class I antigen consists of a highly polymorphic α chain and a substantially non-polymorphic β2-microglobulin; whereas the HLA class II antigen consists of a highly polymorphic β chain and a less polymorphic α chain. The α chains of class I molecules are encoded by HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C genes. The β chains of class II antigens are encoded by HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DPB1 genes, whereas the α chains are encoded by HLA-DRA1, HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DPA1 genes. In a gene level, in HLA class I antigens, exon 2 and exon 3 of a gene encoding an α chain are highly polymorphic; whereas, in HLA class II antigens, exon 2 of a gene encoding a β chain is highly polymorphic.

A gene region encoding a HLA is located on short arm of human chromosome 6 at 6p21.3. A Class I region (HLA-A, HLA-C and HLA-B, etc.), a class III region and a class II region (HLA-DRA, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1, HLA-DPB1, etc.) are arranged in this order from the telomere side toward the centromere side. Many genes are encoded at an extremely high density and association of these genes with transfusion, transplantation and various diseases have been reported. In the class III region, no HLA genes are present and genes of complement components and tumor necrosis factors (TNF), etc. are present.

In a HLA-DRB gene region encoding a β chain of a HLA-DR antigen, it has been confirmed that 5 types of structural polymorphisms are present. In DR1 type and DR10 type, pseudogenes such as HLA-DRB6 and HLA-DRB9 in addition to HLA-DRB1 are located on the same chromosome. In DR2 type, a HLA-DRB5 (DR51) gene and pseudogenes such as HLA-DRB6 and HLA-DRB9 in addition to HLA-DRB1 are located on the same chromosome. In DR3, DR5 and DR6 types, a HLA-DRB3 (DR52) gene and pseudogenes such as HLA-DRB2 and HLA-DRB9 in addition to HLA-DRB1 are located on the same chromosome. In DR4, DR7 and DR9 types, a HLA-DRB4 (DR53) gene and pseudogenes such as HLA-DRB7, HLA-DRB8 and HLA-DRB9 in addition to HLA-DRB1 are located on the same chromosome. In contrast to these, in DR8 type, no HLA-DRB genes except HLA-DRB1 are located on the same chromosome.

In the exon of each allele, a plurality of regions exhibiting polymorphism are present. In many cases, a nucleotide sequence (amino acid sequence) present in a certain polymorphic region is commonly present in a plurality of alleles. In short, each HLA allele is specified by a plurality of polymorphic regions in combination. In a HLA class I antigen, not only a polymorphic region in the exon but also exon 2 or exon 3 having the same nucleotide sequence is sometimes commonly present in a plurality of alleles.

Since a highly polymorphic region is present in a HLA, the number of types of alleles is known to be extremely large and notation of them has been defined: i.e., a first field (two-digit level) is for discrimination of serologic HLA types, a second field (4-digit level) is for discrimination of alleles having an amino acid substitution in the same serologic HLA type, a third field (6-digit level) is for discrimination of alleles having a base substitution not accompanying an amino acid mutation and a fourth field (8-digit level) is for discrimination of alleles having a base substitution in an intron, which is out of the genetic region encoding a HLA molecule.

In bone marrow transplantation, it is said that if the HLA type of a patient seeking to receive a transplant completely matches the HLA type of a donor at a 4-digit level, the success rate of transplantation improves and a severe GVHD frequency reduces. Conversely, if the HLA types do not match at a 4 digit level, a risk of causing a failure such as a rejection response increases. Accordingly, accurate and highly precise HLA typing is extremely important also in a clinical point of view.

As a method for DNA typing in a HLA gene, a SBT (sequence based typing) method and a SSO (Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide)-Luminex method based on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are in mainstream.

These conventional DNA typing methods have an advantage in that typing of many samples is quickly performed; however, sometimes fail to accurately determine a polymorphic region and cis/trans positional relationship of exons on a chromosome in the case of a class I gene. Because of this, phase ambiguity occurs, highly precise HLA typing was sometimes not easily performed.

Since the conventional methods are DNA typing methods using PCR mainly based on exon regions of each gene, base substitutions in an intron region and a promoter region are overlooked, with the result that there was a risk of failure in detection of a null allele, which has the same gene structure as other HLA expressing genes but is suppressed in expression.

RELATED ART Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: JP H11-216000 A

Non Patent Document

-   Non Patent Document 1: Lind C., et al., Human Immunology, Vol. 71,     Pages 1033-1042 (2010)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a kit for highly precise DNA typing in which ambiguity derived from phase ambiguity is eliminated.

Solution to Problem

The present inventors newly conceived an idea of newly designing a PCR primer capable of specifically amplifying genes of HLAs such as HLA class I molecules including HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C and HLA class II molecules including HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1, setting suitable PCR conditions and applying a massive parallel sequencing technique. Based on the new idea, they repeatedly studied with a view to attaining the above object. As a result, they accomplished the present invention.

More specifically, the present invention provides a method for DNA typing of HLA, including the following steps:

(1) a step of preparing a set of primers which respectively anneal specifically to an upstream region and a downstream region of each of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 genes in human genome sequence, and a set of primers which respectively anneal specifically to exon 2 and a 3′ untranslated region of HLA-DRB1;

(2) a step of amplifying a test sample (DNA) by a PCR using the sets of primers;

(3) a step of determining the nucleotide sequences of PCR amplified products; and

(4) a step of carrying out a homology search within a database.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The method of the present invention, since it provides all nucleotide sequences required for DNA typing of a HLA gene from a single molecule, is an ultimate DNA typing method in which phase ambiguity due to unclear cis/trans positional relationship is eliminated. Owing to this, highly precise matching of HLAs between a patient seeking to receive a transplant and a donor candidate upon transplantation is realized.

Since all nucleotide sequences of a HLA gene including the peripheral regions such as a promoter region, exon regions and intron regions are determined, a null allele, which is not expressed at all or suppressed in expression, and a novel allele can be detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1( a) A diagram showing the relationship between the structure of a HLA class I gene and the structure of HLA class I molecule; and (b) A diagram showing the structure of a promoter region of a HLA class I gene, cited from “Transplantation/transfusion Examination”, supervised by Hidetoshi Inoko, Takehiko Sasazuki and Takeo Juuji, Kodan-sha Scientific, 2004, page 35.

FIG. 2( a) A diagram showing the relationship between the structure of a HLA class II gene and the structure of HLA class II molecule; and (b) A diagram showing the structure of a promoter region of a HLA class II gene, cited from “Transplantation/transfusion Examination”, supervised by Hidetoshi Inoko, Takehiko Sasazuki and Takeo Juuji, Kodan-sha Scientific, 2004, pages 46 and 47.

FIG. 3 A diagram showing a HLA-DR gene region, cited from “Transplantation/transfusion Examination”, supervised by Hidetoshi Inoko, Takehiko Sasazuki and Takeo Juuji, Kodan-sha Scientific, 2004, page 48.

FIG. 4 An agarose gel electrophoretic pattern showing amplification states of PCR products amplified in Example 1.

FIG. 5 A diagram schematically showing the structure of a HLA gene and the position to which a PCR primer is designed to bind (SEQ ID No. of the primer designed in the indicated region is indicated within parentheses).

FIG. 6 An agarose gel electrophoretic pattern showing the amplification states of amplified PCR products of a HLA gene in Example 2.

FIG. 7 An agarose gel electrophoretic pattern of amplified PCR products obtained by three types of DNA extraction methods in Example 3.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, the DNA typing method of the present invention will be more specifically described step by step.

(1) Step of Preparing a Primer Set

In the DNA typing method of the present invention, first, a set of primers which respectively anneal specifically to an upstream region and a downstream region of each of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 genes in the human genome sequence and a set of primers which respectively anneal specifically to exon 2 and a 3′ untranslated region of HLA-DRB1 are prepared.

The genome sequence of human chromosome 6 (6p21.3) in which a HLA gene is present has been already elucidated and association of the gene structure and the structure of an expression product (HLA molecule) has been known (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2).

More specifically, genes of HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C, which are called classic HLA class I molecules, each contain 7 or 8 exons (FIG. 1( a)). Outside of exon 1, two types of enhancers and a promoter region are present to control expression (FIG. 1( b)).

It is further known that many polymorphic regions are present in exon 2, 3 and 4. Thus, PCR was performed by using primers prepared particularly based on exon 2 and 3 in conventional DNA typing methods. Accordingly, a problem of phase ambiguity has occurred as mentioned above.

In the meantime, the genes of HLA-DR, HLA-DQ and HLA-DP, which are called classic HLA class II molecules, consist of α chains and β chains, whose genes each contain 5 to 6 exons (FIG. 2( a)). Outside of exon 1, a promoter region is present to control expression (FIG. 2( b)).

It is further known that many polymorphic regions are present in exon 2 and 3. Thus, PCR was performed by using primers prepared particularly based on exon 2 in conventional DNA typing methods. Accordingly, a problem of phase ambiguity occurred as mentioned above.

In the present invention, a set of primers which can amplify (by PCR) all regions of a gene (including not only exons but also introns, 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions and a promoter region) in each of classic class I molecules (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C) and classic class II molecules (HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1); and a set of primers which can amplify (by PCR) the gene regions of HLA-DRB1 including exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region are prepared, and PCR products obtained by PCR amplification using the sets of primers are subjected to next-generation sequencing (described later). Therefore, uncertainty such as phase ambiguity can be eliminated and the presence or absence of a null allele can be accurately detected.

Specifically, PCR primer sets listed in Table 1 to Table 4 below are prepared.

In Table 1, SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 3 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-A gene, which is an a chain of MHC class I. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-A gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 1 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 29,909,487th position to the 29,909,514th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 2 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 29,909,487th position to the 29,909,514th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 3 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 29,914,925th position to the 29,914,952nd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 5,500 bases (bp).

In Table 1, SEQ ID Nos. 4 and 5 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-B gene, which is an α chain of MHC class I. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-B gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 4 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 31,325,796th position to the 31,325,820th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 5 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 31,321,212nd position to the 31,321,235th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 4,600 bases (bp).

In Table 1, SEQ ID Nos. 6 to 8 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-C gene, which is an α chain of MHC class I. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-C gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 6 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 31,240,868th position to the 31,240,892nd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 7 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 31,240,868th position to the 31,240,892nd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 8 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 31,236,991st position to the 31,236,114th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 4,800 bases (bp).

TABLE 1 Length  Estimated HLA-class  Name of of primer Primer sequence Sequence length of PCR I gene primer (mer) (5′-3′) ID No. product (bp) HLA-A HLA-A_F1 28 AACTCAGAGCTAAGGAA 1 5,466 TGATGGCAAAT HLA-A_F2 28 AACTCAGAGCTATGGAA 2 TGATGGTAAAT HLA-A_R1 28 ATATAACCATCATCGTG 3 TCCCAAGGTTC HLA-B HLA-B_F1 25 CCCGGTTGCAATAGACA 4 4,609 GTAACAAA HLA-B_R1 24 GGGTCCAATTTCACAGA 5 CAAATGT HLA-C HLA-C_F1 25 TGCTTAGATGTGCATAG 6 4,802 TTCACGAA HLA-C_F2 25 TGCTTAGATGTGCATAG 7 TTCCGGAA HLA-C_R1 24 TGGACCCAATTTTACAA 8 ACAAATA

In Table 2, SEQ ID Nos. 9 to 11 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR1 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 9 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,552,131st position to the 32,552,156th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 10 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,552,131st position to the 32,552,156th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 11 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,546,609th position to the 32,546,629th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 5,200 bases (bp).

In Table 2, SEQ ID Nos. 31 and 32 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying HLA-DR1, HLA-DR4, HLA-DR6 (DR13) and a HLA-DR10 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 31 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,558,110th position to the 32,558,133rd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 32 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,551,974th position to the 32,551,999th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The lengths of PCR products obtained by using these primer sets are estimated as about 6,100 bases (bp) in the case of a HLA-DR1 subtype, about 9,100 bases (bp) in the case of a HLA-DR4 subtype, about 8,900 bases (bp) in the case of a HLA-DR6 (DR13) subtype and about 8,900 bases (bp) in the case of a HLA-DR10 subtype.

In Table 2, SEQ ID Nos. 11 and 12 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR2 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 11 is as defined above.

SEQ ID No. 12 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,552,130th position to the 32,552,151st position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 5,500 bases (bp).

In Table 3, SEQ ID Nos. 31 and 33 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR2 (DR15) subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 31 is as defined above.

SEQ ID No. 33 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,551,974th position to the 32,551,999th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 6,100 bases (bp).

In Table 2, SEQ ID Nos. 13 and 14 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR3, HLA-DR5, HLA-DR6 and HLA-DR8 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 13 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,552,137th position to the 32,552,160th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 14 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,546,609th position to the 32,546,629th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 5,100 bases (bp).

In Table 2, SEQ ID Nos. 34 and 32 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR3 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 34 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,558,110th position to the 32,558,133rd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 32 is as defined above.

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 8,900 bases (bp).

In Table 2, SEQ ID Nos. 15 and 16 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR4 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 15 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,552,131st position to the 32,552,157th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 16 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,546,609th position to the 32,546,629th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 6,200 bases (bp).

In Table 2, SEQ ID Nos. 31 and 35 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR5 (DR11) subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 31 is as defined above.

SEQ ID No. 35 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,551,974th position to the 32,551,999th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 8,900 bases (bp).

In Table 2, SEQ ID Nos. 31 and 36 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR5 (DR12) subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 31 is as defined above.

SEQ ID No. 36 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,551,974th position to the 32,551,999th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 8,900 bases (bp).

TABLE 2 Length Estimated HLA-class Name of of primer Primer sequence Sequence length of PCR II gene primer (mer) (5′-3′) ID No. product (bp) HLA-DR1 DR-E2-1.1-F 26 GCACGTTTCTTGTGGCA 9 5,199 GCTTAAGTT DR-E2-1.2-F 26 GCACGTTTCTTGTGGCA 10 GCTAAAGTT DR-E2-12-R 21 ATGCACGGGAGGCCAT 11 ACGGT HLA-DR1 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31 6,168 ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R1 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 32 ACTCGGCAT HLA-DR2 DR-E2-2-F 22 TTTCCTGTGGCAGCCTA 12 5,543 AGAGG DR-E2-12-R 21 ATGCACGGGAGGCCAT 11 ACGGT HLA-DR2 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31 6,146 (DR15) ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R3 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 33 ACTCAGCGT HLA-DR3 DR-E2-3568-F 24 CACAGCACGTTTCTTG 13 5,157 GAGTACTC DR-E2-3568-R 21 ATGCACAGGAGGCCAT 14 AGGGT HLA-DR3 DRB_PE2-F3 24 CTGCTGCTCCCTGAGG 34 8,894 CATCCACA DRB_PE2-R1 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 32 ACTCGGCAT HLA-DR4 DR-E2-4-F 27 AGCACGTTTCTTGGAG 15 6,218 CAGGTTAAACA DR-E2-4-R 21 ATGCATGGGAGGCAGG 16 AAGCA HLA-DR4 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31 9,159 ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R1 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 32 ACTCGGCAT HLA-DR5 DR-E2-3568-F 24 CACAGCACGTTTCTTG 13 5,172 GAGTACTC DR-E2-3568-R 21 ATGCACAGGAGGCCAT 14 AGGGT HLA-DR5 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31 8,888 (DR11) ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R4 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 35 ACTCCTCAT HLA-DR5 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31 8,888 (DR12) ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R2 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGG 36 ACTCGGCGA

In Table 3, SEQ ID Nos. 31 and 37 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR6 (DR14) subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 31 is as defined above.

SEQ ID No. 37 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,551,974th position to the 32,551,999th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 8,900 bases (bp).

In Table 3, SEQ ID Nos. 17 and 18 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR7 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 17 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,552,137th position to the 32,552,160th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 18 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,546,606th position to the 32,546,629th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 5,100 bases (bp).

In Table 3, SEQ ID Nos. 38 and 36 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR7 and HLA-DR9 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 38 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,558,110th position to the 32,558,133rd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 36 is as defined above.

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 11,400 bases (bp).

In Table 3, SEQ ID Nos. 31 and 39 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR8 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 31 is as defined above.

SEQ ID No. 39 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,551,974th position to the 32,551,999th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 8,900 bases (bp).

In Table 3, SEQ ID Nos. 19 and 20 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR9 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 19 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,552,137th position to the 32,552,160th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 20 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,546,609th position to the 32,546,629th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 5,100 bases (bp).

In Table 3, SEQ ID Nos. 21 and 22 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DR10 subtype gene of a HLA-DRB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DRB1 gene and sandwich the exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 21 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,552,137th position to the 32,552,159th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 22 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,546,403rd position to the 32,546,435th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 5,400 bases (bp).

TABLE 3 Length Estimated HLA-class Name of of primer Primer sequence Sequence length of PCR II gene primer (mer) (5′-3′) ID No. product (bp) HLA-DR6 DR-E2-3568-F 24 CACAGCACGTTTCTTG 13  5,179 GAGTACTC DR-E2-3568-R 21 ATGCACAGGAGGCCAT 14 AGGGT HLA-DR6 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31  8,895 (DR13) ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R1 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 32 ACTCGGCAT HLA-DR6 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31  8,895 (DR14) ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R5 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 37 GCTCCGCAG HLA-DR7 DR-E2-7-F4 24 CACAGCACGTTTCCTGT 17  5,070 GGCAGGG DR-E2-7-R2 24 CAGATGCATGGGAGGC 18 AGGAAGCG HLA-DR7 DRB_PE2-F2 24 CTGCTACTCCTTGAGGC 38 11,409 ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R2 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGG 36 ACTCGGCGA HLA-DR8 DR-E2-3568-F 24 CACAGCACGTTTCTTG 13  5,167 GAGTACTC DR-E2-3568-R 21 ATGCACAGGAGGCCAT 14 AGGGT HLA-DR8 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31  8,841 ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R6 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 39 ACTCGGCGC HLA-DR9 DR-E2-9-F 24 CACAGCACGTTTCTTG 19  5,067 AAGCAGGA DR-E2-9-R 21 ATGCATGGGAGGCAGG 20 AAGCG HLA-DR9 DRB_PE2-F2 24 CTGCTACTCCTTGAGGC 38 11,478 ATCCACA. DRB_PE2-R2 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGG 36 ACTCGGCGA HLA-DR10 DR-E2-10-F 23 ACAGCACGTTTCTTGG 21  5,354 AGGAGGT DR-E2-10-R 33 TGGAATGTCTAAAGCA 22 AGCTATTTAACATATGT HLA-DR10 DRB_PE2-F1 24 CTGCTGCTCCTTGAGGC 31  8,888 ATCCACA DRB_PE2-R1 26 CTTCTGGCTGTTCCAGT 32 ACTCGGCAT

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 23 and 24 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-DPA1 gene, which is an α chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-DPA1 gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 23 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,041,478th position to the 33,041,502nd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 24 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,031,888th position to the 33,031,911st position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 9,600 bases (bp).

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 40 and 41 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-DPA1 gene, which is an α chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-DPA1 gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 40 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,041,573rd position to the 33,041,596th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 41 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,031,888th position to the 33,031,912nd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 9,600 bases (bp).

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 25 and 26 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-DPB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-DPB1 gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 25 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,043,056th position to the 33,043,079th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 26 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,055,476th position to the 33,055,499th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 12,400 bases (bp).

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 42 and 43 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DPB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of a HLA-DPB1 gene and sandwich the 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 42 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,043,168th position to the 33,043,191st position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 43 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,049,084th position to the 33,049,107th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 5,900 bases (bp).

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 44 and 45 represent a set of PCR primers of specifically amplifying a HLA-DPB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DPB1 gene and sandwich the exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 44 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,048,182nd position to the 33,048,207th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 45 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 33,055,428th position to the 33,055,453rd position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 7,200 bases (bp).

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 27 and 28 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-DQA1 gene, which is an α chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-DQA1 gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 27 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,604,318th position to the 32,604,338th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 28 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,611,681st position to the 32,611,701st position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 7,400 bases (bp).

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 46 and 47 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-DQA1 gene, which is an α chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-DQA1 gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 46 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,604,469th position to the 32,604,488th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 47 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,611,936th position to the 32,611,956th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 7,400 bases (bp).

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 29 and 30 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-DQB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-DQB1 gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 29 has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,626,545th position to the 32,626,568th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID No. 30 has a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,635,612nd position to the 32,635,637th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 9,100 bases (bp).

In Table 4, SEQ ID Nos. 29, 30 and 48 to 50 represent a set of PCR primers specifically amplifying a HLA-DQB1 gene, which is a β chain of MHC class II. These primers of the set are nucleotide sequences located at positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of a HLA-DQB1 gene (including promoter, exons and introns), and sandwich the all regions, in the human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID Nos. 29 and 48 have a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,626,545th position to the 32,626,568th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

SEQ ID Nos. 30, 49 and 50 have a complementary nucleotide sequence to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 32,635,612nd position to the 32,635,637th position in a human genome sequence (Reference sequence: hg19).

The length of a PCR product obtained by using these primer sets is estimated as about 9,100 bases (bp).

TABLE 4 Length Estimated HLA-class Name of of primer Primer sequence Sequence length of PCR II gene primer (mer) (5′-3′) ID No. product (bp) HLA-DPA1 DPA1-F2 25 TGATTTCTCTGATAGGT 23  9,615 GAATCCCA DPA1-R2 24 TTGGCCTCTTGGCTATA 24 CCTCTTT HLA-DPA1 DPA1-F1 24 CTCTCTTGACCACGCTG 40  9,660 GTACCTA DPA1-R1 25 TTGGCCTCTTGGCTATA 41 CCTCTTTT HLA-DPB1 DPB1-F1 24 ATTGAAGACAAGGAAT 25 12,444 CGAAGTCC DPB1-R1 24 TCCCCCGATGGAAGATA 26 TTATTTG HLA-DPB1 DPB1_pro-F2 24 CCTCCTGACCCTGATGA 42  5,898 CAGTCCT DPB1_pro-R2 24 CCATCTGCCCCTCAAGC 43 ACCTCAA DPB1-F2 26 CTCAGTGCTCGCCCCTC 44  7,220 CCTAGTGAT DPB1-R2 26 GCACAGTAGCTTTCGG 45 GAATTGACCA HLA-DQA1 DQA1-F1 21 GCAAAGGTATTGCTTGG 27  7,384 GCTA DQA1-R1 21 CAGACTGCGCCTCTATT 28 CAGG HLA-DQA1 DQA1-F2 20 GCCAGGGAGGGAAATC 46  7,460 AACT DQA1-R2 21 ATCCAGTGGAGGACAC 47 AGCAC HLA-DQB1 DQB1-F3.1 24 AAGAAACAAACTGCCC 29  9,093 CTTACACC DQB1-R3.1 26 TAGTATTGCCCCTAGTC 30 ACTGTCAAG HLA-DQB1 DQB1-F3.1 24 AAGAAACAAACTGCCC 29  9,093 CTTACACC DQB1-F3.2 24 AAGAAACAAACTGCCC 48 CTTATACC DQB1-R3.1 26 TAGTATTGCCCCTAGTC 30 ACTGTCAAG DQB1-R3.2 26 TAGTACTGCCCCTAGTC 49 ACTGCCAAG DQB1-R3.3 26 TAGTACTGTCCCTAGTC 50 ACTGCCAAG

These primers can be prepared by a method routinely used in this field. Furthermore, the sets of primers described in Table 1 and Table 2 are the most preferable examples. In the method of the present invention, any set of primers can be used as long as the set of primers is a set of a forward primer and a reverse primer capable of annealing to the positions, which correspond to the upstream and downstream of all regions of each HLA gene and sandwich the all regions.

(2) Step of PCR Amplification

In the method of the present invention, a test sample (DNA) is amplified by PCR using the sets of primers prepared in the above step (1).

The PCR amplification reaction is performed in accordance with a general protocol and more specifically, as follows.

1. DNA is extracted from a test sample depending upon the form of the sample.

2. The DNA extracted is quantified and the concentrations of primers are appropriately set to prepare the reaction solution.

3. Reaction conditions are set and a PCR is performed.

For example:

Thermal denaturation step (usually 92 to 97° C.)

Annealing step (usually 55 to 72° C.)

Extension step (usually 65 to 80° C.)

In the method of the present invention, in the case of a HLA gene (except HLA-DRB1), the temperature of the annealing step is preferably set at about 60° C. Owing to the annealing at about 60° C., alleles can be produced at the equivalent ratio (uniformly). In the case of a HLA-DRB1, the temperature of the annealing step is preferably set at about 70° C. Owing to the annealing at about 70° C., a desired DR subtype alone can be specifically produced.

4. The obtained PCR product is purified and subjected to the following nucleotide sequencing step.

(3) Step of Nucleotide Sequencing

Next, the nucleotide sequence of the PCR product (amplified DNA) produced in the above step (2) is determined. The step is preferably performed by a technique called next-generation sequencing (or ultrahigh sequencing). With respect to the next-generation sequencing, see, for example, “Experimental Medicine”, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2009 (Yodo-sha).

The sequence herein is determined by a method based on pyro-sequencing, which is employed in a genome sequencer FLX system of Roche. The sequencing method will be described below.

1. The PCR product obtained in the above step (2) is broken up by a nebulizer into fragments of about 500 bases.

2. To an end of each of the DNA fragments, a DNA adaptor is attached.

3. DNA fragments attached with a DNA adaptor are dissociated into single stranded DNA fragments, which are allowed to bind to beads via the adaptor. The obtained beads are encompassed and taken in a water-in-oil emulsion (a micro-reactor environment containing a single DNA fragment bound to a single bead is formed).

4. Emulsion PCR is performed to form copies of each DNA fragment on a bead (Each DNA fragment is clonally amplified in each micro reactor. In this manner, many fragments can be simultaneously and in parallel amplified without competition with other sequences). Subsequently, the emulsion is destroyed and beads having amplified DNA fragments are collected.

5. The beads are concentrated and loaded in a pico-titer plate (a single well has a size enough to place a single bead).

6. Pyrophosphoric acid produced by a polymerase during an enzymatic reaction is detected with respect to each bead by a fluorescent reaction of luciferase. Based on the intensity and the pattern of fluorescence thus emitted, the nucleotide sequence of DNA is determined. Four types of nucleic acids (A, C, G, T) are added in a predetermined order. The chemiluminescence pattern in accordance with the nucleic acid added is recorded. Based on the intensity of signal and positional data in combination, the nucleotide sequence is determined.

(4) Step of DNA Typing

Subsequently, the nucleotide sequence obtained in step (3) is compared with data of known HLA alleles within the nucleotide sequencing database. In this manner, the allele type (up to 8 digits) contained in the test sample is determined.

In the method of the present invention, typical sets of primers are listed in Table 1 (described above). The method of the present invention is characterized in that primers are designed so as to correspond to all regions of each of the genes of HLA class I and HLA class II except HLA-DRB1 and the positions sandwiching exon 2 to 3′ untranslated region of HLA-DRB1 and the sequence of the DNA amplified so as to correspond to almost all regions is determined. In this manner, phase ambiguity (uncertainty) is eliminated and information on a null allele can be obtained.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be more specifically described by way of Examples below; however, the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

Example 1 Experimental Method

1. Using genomic DNA already extracted as a template and primer sets specific to individual HLA class I genes (see Table 1: SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 8), a PCR was carried out. The procedure is more specifically as follows.

(1) PCR amplification was performed by use of Prime STAR GXL polymerase (TaKaRa). More specifically, to 50 ng of a genomic DNA solution, 4 μL of 5× PrimeSTAR GXL buffer, 1.6 μL of a dNTP solution, PCR primers (4 μL (1 pmol/μL) for each) and 0.8 μL of Prime STAR GXL polymerase were added. The whole amount of the reaction solution was adjusted to be 20 μL with sterilized water.

(2) After kept at 94° C. for 2 minutes, the reaction solution was subjected to a step consisting of a reaction at 98° C. for 10 seconds, a reaction at 60° C. for 20 seconds and a reaction at 68° C. for 5 minutes. This step was repeated 30 times. Note that, for the PCR amplification, Gene Amp PCR System 9700 (Applied Biosystems) was used. After the PCR, the amplification states of PCR products were checked by agarose gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic patterns were shown in FIG. 4.

2. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were determined specifically as follows.

(1) A PCR product was purified by QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (QIAGEN) in accordance with the standard protocol.

(2) The concentration of the purified PCR product was measured by PicoGreen dsDNA Quantitation Kit (Invitrogen) in accordance with the standard protocol.

(3) A solution of the purified PCR product, a concentration of which was adjusted to be 500 ng/100 μL, was subjected to construction of a rapid library, and then, emulsion PCR and sequencing by Genome Sequencer (GS) Junior (Roche) were carried out in accordance with the standard protocol to obtain nucleotide sequences of 10,000 reads per sample.

(4) These sequences were connected and edited by GS de novo Assembler (Roche). Thereafter, a search for homology with known nucleotide sequences on a DNA database was performed to identify alleles on the HLA gene.

[Discussion]

In HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C, PCR primers, which specifically amplify 5.5 kb, 4.6 kb and 4.8 kb, respectively, were designed. PCR conditions were studied and agarose gel electrophoresis of the resultant PCR products was performed. As a result, it was found that HLA class I genes all provide a single PCR amplified product at a position corresponding to a desired molecular weight (FIG. 4). Furthermore, the nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were determined by the Sanger method. As a result, HLA alleles were obtained in consistent with known documents. From this, it was confirmed that the PCR system of the invention can be used for HLA typing.

Using three specimens of a HLA-B*40:02 homozygote and 17 specimens of a HLA-B*40:02 heterozygote including combinations of alleles (B*40 and B*55), in which phase ambiguity was observed in a conventional DNA typing method, a PCR was performed. As the result of HLA typing of the PCR products derived from the HLA-B gene by GS Junior, HLA-B*40: 02: 01: 01 was detected from all specimens. In the 17 heterozygote specimens, 2 types of novel alleles were detected in addition to 15 alleles already known. In particular, with respect to a single specimen having a combination of alleles (B*40 and B*55) in which phase ambiguity was observed, HLA-B*40: 02: 01: 01 and HLA-B*55: 02: 01: 01 were identified by typing. From this, it was demonstrated that the method of the invention enables HLA typing at a 8-digit level without phase ambiguity; and that the method of the invention is an excellent tool for efficiently detecting a substitution, an insertion and a deletion of bases in a promoter and introns, which are causes of a null allele.

Example 2 Experimental Method

1. Using a genomic DNA already extracted as a template and primer sets specific to individual HLA class I and HLA class II genes (see Tables 1 to 4: SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 8, 9 to 22, 31 to 50), a PCR was carried out. The procedure is more specifically as follows.

(1) PCR amplification was performed by use of Prime STAR GXL polymerase (TaKaRa). More specifically, to 50 ng of a genomic DNA solution, 4 μL of 5× PrimeSTAR GXL buffer, 1.6 μL of a dNTP solution, PCR primers (1 to 7 μL (4 pmol/μL)) and 0.8 μL of Prime STAR GXL polymerase were added. The whole amount of the reaction solution was adjusted to be 20 μL with sterilized water.

(2) After kept at 94° C. for 2 minutes, the reaction solution was subjected to a step consisting of a reaction at 98° C. for 10 seconds and a reaction at 70° C. for 5 minutes. This step was repeated 30 times. Note that, for the PCR amplification, Gene Amp PCR System 9700 (Applied Biosystems) was used. After the PCR, the amplification states of PCR products were checked by agarose gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic patterns were shown in FIG. 6.

2. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were determined specifically as follows.

(1) A PCR product was purified by QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (QIAGEN) in accordance with the standard protocol.

(2) The concentration of the purified PCR product was measured by PicoGreen dsDNA Quantitation Kit (Invitrogen) in accordance with the standard protocol.

(3) The purified PCR product, the concentration of which was adjusted to be 100 ng, was subjected to construction of a fragment library, and then emulsion PCR and sequencing by Ion Personal Genome Machine (Ion PGM) (Life Technologies) were carried out in accordance with the standard protocol to obtain nucleotide sequences of 300,000 reads per sample.

(4) These sequences were connected and edited by GS De Novo Assembler (Roche). Thereafter, a search for homology with known nucleotide sequences on a DNA database was performed to identify alleles on the HLA gene.

[Results and Discussion]

1. PCR primers, which specifically amplify 4 kb to 12 kb in the region from a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C and HLA-DRB1, the region from exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of HLA-DRB1, the region from a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DPB1 and the region from exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of HLA-DPB1, were designed. PCR conditions were studied and agarose gel electrophoresis of the resultant PCR products was performed. As a result, it was found that HLA class I and HLA class II genes all provide a single amplified product at a position corresponding to a desired molecular weight (FIG. 6). Furthermore, the nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were determined by the Sanger method. As a result, HLA alleles were obtained in consistent with known documents. It was confirmed herein again that the PCR system of the invention can be used for HLA typing.

2. Using four specimens containing a combination of alleles, in which phase ambiguity is observed in a conventional DNA typing method, a PCR was performed. PCR products derived from the regions from a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C and HLA-DRB1 genes, the region from exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DRB1 gene, the region from a 5′ untranslated region to exon 2 of HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DPB1 genes, and the region from exon 2 to a 3′ untranslated region of a HLA-DPB1 gene were subjected to HLA typing by Ion PGM. As a result, typing of whole gene regions of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 were successfully made. With respect to HLA-DPB1, typing of an exon alone was successfully made. Furthermore, in each of the HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 genes, a novel allele was detected. From this, it was demonstrated that the method of the invention enables HLA typing at a 8-digit level without phase ambiguity; and that the method of the invention is an excellent tool for efficiently detecting a substitution, an insertion and a deletion of bases in a promoter and introns, which are causes of a null allele.

Example 3 Experimental Method

1. Genomic DNA was extracted by using Buccal Cell DNA Extraction Kit, BuccalQuick (TRIMGEN).

2. The genomic DNA extracted by use of Buccal Cell DNA Extraction Kit, BuccalQuick (TRIMGEN) was further purified with isopropanol and ethanol.

3. Using a QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit (QIAGEN), genomic DNA was extracted.

4. Three each of genomic DNA specimens extracted in items 1 to 3 above were subjected to PCR using primer sets specific to HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C and HLA-DQB1 performed in the same experimental method as in Example 1 and Example 2 (see Table 1 and Table 4: SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 8, 29, 30, 48 to 50). After the PCR, the amplification states of the PCR products were checked by agarose gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic patterns were shown in FIG. 7.

[Experimental Results and Discussion]

In FIG. 7, lanes 1 to 3 show the amplification states of PCR products in the case where extraction was made by Experimental method 1, lanes 4 to 6 show the amplification states of PCR products in the case where extraction was made by Experimental method 2, and lanes 7 to 9 show the amplification state of PCR products in the case where extraction was made by Experimental method 3. PCR amplification in the case where genomic DNA extracted by Experimental method 1 was used as a template in any gene is equivalent to PCR amplification in the case where genomic DNA extracted by Experimental method 3 was used, and a desired PCR product was obtained. In Experimental method 3, blood must be taken; however in Experimental method 1, cells can be taken from the oral mucous membrane. Therefore, it was demonstrated that if the method of the present invention is employed, HLA typing can be sufficiently performed even if blood cannot be taken. 

1. A method for DNA typing of HLA, comprising the following steps: (1) a step of preparing at least one set of primers selected from the group consisting of primers which respectively anneal specifically to an upstream region and a downstream region of each of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 genes in human genome sequence, and primers which respectively anneal specifically to exon 2 and a 3′ untranslated region of HLA-DRB1; (2) a step of amplifying a test sample (DNA) by a PCR using the sets of primers; (3) a step of determining the nucleotide sequences of PCR amplified products; and (4) a step of optionally carrying out a homology search within a database.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a HLA-A gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 1, 2 and
 3. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a HLA-B gene, the sets of primers are oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 4 and
 5. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a HLA-C gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 6, 7 and
 8. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR1 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 9, 10, 11, 31 and
 32. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR2 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 11, 12, 31 and
 33. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR3 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 13, 14, 32 and
 34. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR4 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 15, 16, 31 and
 32. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR5 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 13, 14, 31, 35 and
 36. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR6 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 13, 14, 31, 32 and
 37. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR7 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 17, 18, 36 and
 38. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR8 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 13, 14, 31 and
 39. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR9 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 19, 20, 36 and
 38. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is DR10 type of a HLA-DRB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 21, 22, 31 and
 32. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a HLA-DPA1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 23, 24, 40 and
 41. 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a HLA-DPB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 25, 26, 42, 43, 44 and
 45. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a HLA-DQA1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 27, 28, 46 and
 47. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a HLA-DQB1 gene and the sets of primers are selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 29, 30, 48, 49 and
 50. 19. A primer set for DNA typing of a HLA gene, comprising at least one combination of a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from the groups consisting of the combinations (1) to (17) below: (1) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 1, 2 and 3; (2) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 4 and 5; (3) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 6, 7 and 8; (4) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 9, 10, 11, 31 and 32; (5) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 11, 12, 31 and 33; (6) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 13, 14, 32 and 34; (7) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 15, 16, 31 and 32; (8) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 13, 14, 31, 35 and 36; (9) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 13, 14, 31, 32 and 37; (10) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 17, 18, 36 and 38; (11) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 13, 14, 31 and 39; (12) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 19, 20, 36 and 38; (13) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 21, 22, 31 and 32; (14) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 23, 24, 40 and 41; (15) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 25, 26, 42, 43, 44 and 45; (16) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 27, 28, 46 and 47; and (17) a forward primer and a reverse primer selected from oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 29, 30, 48, 49 and
 50. 20-35. (canceled) 